FOOTBALL IS BACK... And with it, Fantasy Football is back! So if you are scratching your head on who you should be starting and sitting for Week 1 then don't worry, the @FF_Astronauts have got you covered. @K_H_Ray, @ZTwiceFF, & @MattFFDynasty will be giving you their weekly Start/Sits and also highlighting their Waiver Targets once the season begins. So here's to a successful and enjoyable 2021 fantasy season!
Quarterback
Starts
Start Of The Week
Jalen Hurts @ ATL (@MattFFDynasty)
Jalen Hurts kicks off the 2021 season with an ideal matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. The game appears to be a potential shootout with the Eagles going up against the worst-ranked defense Vs QBs in fantasy points allowed (PA) in 2020. Hurts averaged 25.9 FPPG in his 3 full starts last year, so with the soft matchup and his rushing upside, Hurts is a must-start Week 1 if you roster him.
Matthew Stafford Vs CHI (@K_H_Ray)
After 12 seasons in Detroit, Matt Stafford joins the Rams in sunny southern California. A long way to travel just to end up playing the Bears again. Luckily for the LA signal-caller (and his fantasy managers), Chicago's re-worked secondary should allow for plenty of opportunities for this Rams offense, which is full of talented playmakers. I like Stafford this week as a low-end QB1.
Matt Ryan Vs ATL (@ZTwiceFF)
Ryan is a safe, high upside play going into week 1. There is a lot of uncertainty heading into the first week but I expect the Falcons to be throwing, playing catchup from their bottom 5 defense.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Joe Burrow Vs MIN (@ZTwiceFF)
Burrow is coming off a devastating injury last year and does not seem to have an improved O-Line. I worry he will not have time in the pocket to succeed and likely will lack confidence in the knee as seen in reports during camp. I'd like to see him play a week before I have any sort of confidence in him.
Ben Roethlisberger @ BUF (@MattFFDynasty)
Big Ben has an array of pass-catching talent to pass to once again in 2021, however, this is not a great matchup to begin the season. The Bills have one of the stronger defenses in the NFL and with the Steelers having their struggles on the O-Line, it could be a long night for Big Ben. He’s a bottom-half fantasy QB this week.
Jameis Winston Vs GB (@K_H_Ray)
Winston earned the starting job this preseason over Taysom Hill. With a full year under the Saints umbrella, Jamies will look to shake his reckless perception. Hill is surely going to remain involved in the offense, particularly in red zone packages, taking away scoring opportunities. With the offensive uncertainty and a matchup against the tough Packers secondary, take a wait-and-see approach with Winston.
Running Back
Starts
Start Of The Week
Raheem Mostert @ DET (@ZTwiceFF)
A lot of people have left Mostert for dead with the drafting of Sermon, but he is likely a very safe start this week. As heavy favorites against Detroit, I expect SF to have a run-heavy scheme with Jimmy G starting under center, and Aiyuk coming off an injury. Mostert will have a safe floor with upside due to his ability to make explosive plays.
James Robinson @ HOU (@MattFFDynasty)
Coming off an impressive rookie season where Robinson finished as the RB7 (PPR), he enters Week 1 as the starter once again after the offseason season-ending injury to Travis Etienne. The Jags go up against a Texans team that is depleted of talent this season and this is the ideal opportunity to make it a winning start. The Jags will be able to make rookie QB Trevor Lawrence’s first start easy by leaning on the run game in this one and therefore makes Robinson an easy start this week in fantasy.
Gus Edwards @ LV (@K_H_Ray)
With the loss of J.K. Dobbins for the season, Gus Edwards emerges as the top back to lead the NFL's most run-heavy squad. They also face a Raiders defense that was one of the worst at defending the run in 2020. Edwards has a great chance to reach the end zone Monday night.
Sits
Sit of the Week
D'Andre Swift Vs SF (@MattFFDynasty)
There’s no denying the talent Swift has, and I expect him to have a successful 2021 season, but I wouldn’t feel comfortable trusting him this week. Swift has missed most of training camp and preseason this offseason with a groin injury so may be eased back into action. But on top of that, he faces a strong 49ers run defense (Ranked 26th vs RBs in 2020) to kick off the season. Temper expectation this week.
Saquon Barkley Vs DEN (@K_H_Ray)
All signs point towards Saquon being available this Sunday after spending the past year recovering from his Week 2 ACL tear. It will be difficult to sit Barkley if he's active given the high draft pick investment, but temper expectations as the Giants will likely ease him back into live-action. The Giants also have a short week going into Week 2, playing the Washington Football Team next Thursday night.
Houston RBs Vs JAX (@ZTwiceFF)
Who knows what is going on in Houston. David Johnson is joined by Mark Ingram, Phillip Lindsay, and Rex Burkhead. There may be someone who has value if they take the lead role but we have no way of knowing who will have what role at this point.
Wide Receiver
Starts
Start Of The Week
Robert Woods Vs CHI (@MattFFDynasty)
Coming off another high-end WR2 finish in 2020, Robert Woods now enters the 2021 season with a significant upgrade at QB with the offseason addition on Matthew Stafford. This could be a close game but Woods is often used in a variety of ways on this Rams offense and ranked 4th in Yards After Catch amongst WRs in 2020. He should see plenty of opportunities in this one.
Antonio Brown Vs DAL (@K_H_Ray)
Things really started to pick up late last season for Brown. Over the last 6 games (including playoffs) AB had 40 targets, 28 receptions, and 6 touchdowns. Surely a touchdown per game is setting the bar a bit high, but the chemistry between Brady and AB is undeniable. I'm starting Brown until he gives me a reason not to, particularly in Week 1 against a Dallas secondary that is rebuilding with several rookies and younger talent.
Robby Anderson Vs NYJ (@ZTwiceFF)
Who doesn't love a good revenge story? Buried by Adam Gase, Anderson has proven to be a top WR in football with the change of scenery. His top 20 finish last year was no fluke and I expect him to keep it going against his former team with Sam Darnold.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Kenny Golladay Vs DEN (@K_H_Ray)
Quite the turbulent start for the Giants as another star offensive weapon begins the season at less than full strength. As of this writing, Golladay is questionable but practicing in a limited fashion. Hamstring injuries always seem to be a bit temperamental, but the bigger issue is the top-ranked Denver secondary he'll go up against. I'm looking elsewhere for WR production this week.
Allen Robinson @ LAR (@MattFFDynasty)
Allen Robinson will be a target hog once again for CHI this year, but the issue as always for Robinson is QB play. Andy Dalton will be the Week 1 starter and the Bears go up against the top-ranked pass defense of last season. Robinson will have to contend with star CB Jalen Ramsey for most of the evening and last season, he had his lowest target amount of the season vs LAR. He’ll be hard to bench given where you had to draft him, but better performances are to come after this week is out of the way.
Mike Williams @ WAS (@ZTwiceFF)
I really like the outlook of Mike Williams in LA this year as the X WR. He has not practiced fully over the last couple and I want to see he is healthy before having confidence in starting him.
Tight End
Starts
Start Of The Week
Mike Gesicki @ NE (@ZTwiceFF)
With there being so much unknown in the TE landscape, I always like to chase volume. During the pre-season Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa targeted his TE's heavily. The Dolphins will also be without top wideout Will Fuller, starting a rookie WR, and Parker will be coming off an injury. I like Gesicki in week 1.
Mark Andrews @ LV (@MattFFDynasty)
After recently signing his huge contract extension this week, Mark Andrews should be able to celebrate with a strong performance against the Las Vegas Raiders who were an average pass defense last season. There should be plenty of opportunity for Andrews with numerous BAL WRs struggling with injuries this offseason, expect QB Lamar Jackson to lean on his reliable TE in this one.
Tyler Higbee Vs CHI (@K_H_Ray)
With Gerald Everett departing for Seattle, Higbee is freed up to take full advantage of what should be a high-scoring Rams offense under new QB Matt Stafford. Higbee has shown the ability to produce big games in the past (okay, the distant past), but he should have room to work facing a Bears defense that gave up the second-most fantasy points to TE's last season.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Hunter Henry Vs MIA (@MattFFDynasty)
Henry enters the 2021 season on his new team in the New England Patriots, but he joins them alongside fellow big signing and TE Jonnu Smith. It will be interesting to see how this plays out for this TE duo, but a lot is going to rely on how rookie QB Mac Jones performs. I feel like Henry is a fade for now while we see how this plays out and it’s worth remembering the Dolphins are no slouch on defense either for this week’s matchup.
Jared Cook @ WAS (@K_H_Ray)
Jared Cook has still got some juice left to squeeze, but it may not be worth it for fantasy managers this week as the Chargers face a stout WFT defense which was the 7th best against opposing TEs in 2020. I'm fading Cook this week and waiting for better matchups for the 13-year veteran.
Chris Herndon @ CIN (@ZTwiceFF)
While the late season upside is intriguing, the newly-acquired Minnesota TE will need some time to learn the new playbook and build rapport with Cousins. He is listed behind Conklin for now on the depth chart and will not have much volume in week 1.
Waivers
Once the season begins this section will be a recap of our Waiver Targets which will drop every Tuesday. But before the season starts, we are going to use this section to each highlight our 'waiver stash'. So someone who we think will become a hit waiver add early on in the season...
Marquez Callaway NO (42% Rostered) (@MattFFDynasty)
Callaway is a guy that has been building hype throughout the offseason, but if you haven’t been keeping an eye on reports and action this offseason he may be a name you are unfamiliar with. Callaway had a great preseason with receiving stats of 8/165/2 in just the 2 games that he played and with NO WR1 Michael Thomas placed on IR, Callaway has a great opportunity to kick off the 2021 season as QB Jameis Winston’s top target. He has a tough matchup Week 1 vs GB, but I expect Callaway to be one of the top waiver adds early on in the season. Stash him now before your league mates start to catch on!
Emmanuel Sanders BUF (17% Rostered) (@K_H_Ray)
The journeyman wideout finds himself in Buffalo on a 1-year deal. Sanders was always a serviceable veteran receiver, but playing in this pass-heavy Bills offense is reason alone for adding him to your watch list. Josh Allen ranked 6th in pass attempts last season, and McDermott & Co. don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Although he may not be a game-breaker on a weekly basis, he's got an opportunity to develop a high fantasy floor for WR needy teams moving forward.
Zach Wilson NYJ (12% Rostered) (@ZTwiceFF)
I am not usually one to hype up rookies in week 1 but I am all in on Zach Wilson. From the throws in pre-season to the Mahomes comparisons from Tony Romo, there is a lot of buzz around the new Jets QB. He has the chance to light it up against Carolina so make sure to stash him on the end of your bench to see if he is this years Justin Herbert.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to keep an eye out for both our weekly articles, Tuesday Waiver Targets & Wednesday Start/Sit and Waiver Recap with the @FF_Astronauts. Follow @K_H_Ray, @ZTwiceFF, & @MattFFDynasty on Twitter for more Fantasy Football content throughout the season, and hit us up with any of your Start/Sit questions.
